Regional Government welcomes scheduling of Draft Law on Social Mobility Aid at Regional Assembly - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, welcomed the general discussion ofDraft Law No. 51/XVII/1st, presented by the Azorean Government and voted unanimously in the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, at the plenary session of the National Assembly, scheduled for February 18.

The initiative aims to eliminate the requirement to prove the absence of debts to the Tax Authorities and Social Security by amending Decree-Law no. 37 A/2025 of March 24, which establishes the new model for the Social Mobility Aid for air travel between Mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira.

According to the government official, the main goal of the proposal presented by the Azorean Government is to "adjust the mechanisms supporting air mobility" and ensure that the scheme fulfils its essential purpose without negatively discriminating against the Azoreans.

Berta Cabral stressed that the Social Mobility Aid "is not an ancillary benefit, but rather a structural instrument for territorial continuity, equal opportunities and full citizenship in the Autonomous Regions."

The Regional Secretary criticised the rule that conditions the payment of benefits on the absence of debts to the Tax Authority and Social Security, noting that such a criterion transforms a right into a privilege: "In making the payment of a social subsidy conditional on the absence of debts, the State has started to regard mobility as a privilege when it is a structural right for those who have no other alternative but to leave their island to travel to Mainland Portugal. This does not respect the principle of equality among Portuguese citizens or proportionality as it limits freedom of movement, a fundamental right of all citizens,’ she defended.

The Regional Government's Draft Law, currently under discussion, is "clear, simple and legally sound," Berta Cabral stated, reiterating that the aid "should be paid to all beneficiaries, regardless of their contribution status."

"No regulatory standard can contradict the principle of proportionality. We are talking about a mechanism that exists precisely to ensure freedom of movement and mitigate inequalities, not to aggravate them," she added.

Berta Cabral acknowledged improvements in the process, such as the anticipation of reimbursement before travelling and the reduction from €134 to €119 in the maximum price to be paid by each citizen residing in the Azores. However, this "does not prevent the Regional Government from seeking to guarantee fair treatment for Azoreans."

On January 23, the National Assembly refused to urgently consider the document submitted by the Azorean Parliament - and approved by all parties - concerning the new model for the Social Mobility Aid, which is now following the planned schedule.